Abia pensioners demand publication of gratuity payment beneficiaries, amount paid

The Abia Pensioners' Forum has expressed dissatisfaction over the alleged delays and insufficient payment of gratuity entitlements by the Abia State government. Following the recent start of gratuity payments, the Forum has called upon the state government to publicly disclose the names and amounts already disbursed to beneficiaries who retired between 2001 and 2010.

In a statement released on September 21, 2026, the Forum's Coordinator, Okey Kanu, and Secretary, Emma Onyenyiri, appreciated Governor Alex Otti for his decision to initiate the payment process for retirees within that specific time frame. However, the Forum expressed concerns that over half of the affected pensioners had not received their gratuity a month after the payment began.

Moreover, those who did receive payments reported receiving less than their full entitlement, with some pensioners falling short by over N100,000. The Forum also highlighted that the office designated to handle pensioners' complaints within the 2001-2010 batch is currently non-functional, leaving elderly pensioners caught in a bureaucratic tug-of-war between the Office of the Head of Service and the Office of the Accountant-General.

The Forum further questioned the claim made by the Commissioner for Information that disbursement would occur gradually and in tranches, asking whether the N10 billion earmarked for the 2001-2010 batch was truly inadequate. They warned against any plan to prolong the gratuity payment beyond 2031, as they believe it would introduce uncertainty, erode the value of the benefits, and risk leaving many pensioners without their rightful entitlements.

The Abia Pensioners' Forum reminded Governor Otti of his open letter to former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu in 2018, where he had expressed regret over the deaths of pensioners due to unpaid benefits. The Forum cited improved federal allocations following the removal of fuel subsidies, asserting that the state government has sufficient resources to pay the gratuities all at once.

They also pointed out that Anambra State managed to pay N32 billion in retirement benefits in 2007, emphasizing that the Abia government could similarly manage a one-time payment. The pensioners urged Governor Otti to demonstrate empathy and expedite the payment process, drawing upon religious teachings and the language used by the governor in his 2018 letter.